The city ordered demolition and removal of a partial structure at 5336 Lyndale Ave. S., the former home of Beek’s Pizza and Diamond Lake Rental.

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Graham said in an email several weeks ago that the primary delay in construction stems from a delay in the transfer of title from the previous ownership.

“When the contract for deed was signed years ago, evidently the attorney did not file,” he said. “Construction was halted until the matter of title was rectified. Unfortunately, the sellers had died during this time and all of there [sic] holdings were being administered out of state.

Seconded. So easy to imagine a larger project on a combined site (5336 and the vet, or 5336 and the clinic, or all 3).

Calling CPM, Doran, anyone...please try to acquire this site. I'd think you could get high enough rents here to build a market rate project.

If Zest at Nicollet and Diamond Lake between a gas station and a fire department is viable, then an actual project that encompasses all three properties at this corner is a slam dunk. The clinic at the corner could make money off of the sale of the property and then lease space back in a commercial space (did I mention that this is a slam dunk?). The vet use might not be great in a commercial space in such a building as I would think that they need space to kennel animals and they currently use their lower level for this use) - they would likely need to find other premises.

The city sent Graham an order to raze the property in March, but Graham appealed, saying the delay was due to the death of the previous owner before the title was transferred. He said at a May hearing that he had resolved issues and requested a continuance so he could begin the work. However, in July, Graham said he couldn’t proceed with the work because of health issues in his family. He said he had signed a purchase agreement to sell the property in October, and that the purchasers were planning a mixed-use property.

As stated above, hopefully the buyer can pick up the vet clinic (5328-5330 Lyndale) for a larger project that would wipe out the surface parking lot. If they pick up the counseling clinic on the corner (5346 Lyndale), that'd be nice too, as it would allow for an even larger project with additional access on 54th, but it's also large enough to be developed on its own.